Asawatada Safaris offer an adventure getaway dhow safari through the islands of the Quirimbas Archipelago in northern Mozambique, Cabo Delgado province. Sail the Mozambique Channel and St Lazarus Bank up to the Rovuma River and dive, game fish, photograph, cruise and sail by dhow the islands of Ibo, Matemo, Quilálea, Quisiva, Mefunvu, Quipaco, Sencar, Quirimba, Rolas, Medjumbe, Macaloe, Mogundulu, Vamizi, Tambuzi, Quifuqui, Rongui. See the historic fort on Ibo and experience the Arab and Portuguese colonial history of the Quirimbas Islands influenced by the ancient city states of Zanzibar, Kilwa, Pemba and Songo Mnara. Stay at Matemo Island Lodge, Ibo lsland Lodge and the Pemba Beach Hotel.
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Join us for a real adventure getaway on a seven-day safari by dhow through the islands of the Quirimbas Archipelago in northern Mozambique. Ideal for… ? Groups; ? Couples; ? Families.
A dhow safari is a rare opportunity to experience the remote and historic ‘Islands of the Monsoon’ in one of the last remaining marine wilderness areas in Africa. Each safari combines the right amount of luxury and real adventure and is ideal for… ? Naturalists; ? Wild-life and birding enthusiasts; ? Seekers of African history and culture; ? Photographers; ? Fishermen; ? Scuba and snorkelling; ? Shell collectors.
Almost uniquely, the beautiful and dramatic Quirimbas Archipelago comprises a 400km coastal stretch of beaches, mangrove and miombo forest fringed by a string of 28 small, flat coralline islands studding the sapphire seas of the Mozambique Channel that wash its shores.
The Archipelago extends from the town of Pemba in the south to the Rovuma River in the north marking the border between Mozambique and Tanzania.
Eleven of its southernmost islands, the St Lazarus Bank lying 50NM offshore, and a huge area of the mainland fall within the 7,600 km² bounds of the Quirimbas National Park. In this conservation area, we find the highest concentration of different eco-regions in any park in Africa.
Aside from the obvious attractions of bush and game, the Qurimbas Archipelago and the Quirimbas National Park are a marine paradise for eco-conscious people who simply wish to get away for a really different African wilderness experience.
Kimuane communities are encountered living in villages all along the islands and coastal fringe and live a subsistence existence based on fishing and agriculture.
Actual safari itineraries are dependant on whether or not the safari sails north or south. A typical seven-night safari offers…
? Day #1 & #2: Flight in to Pemba and transfer by charter plane out to the islands over the spectacular Quirimbas National Park. Spend 2 nights in luxury at Matemo Island Lodge http://www.matemoresort.com. Board and all activities included. ? Day #3: Transfer by dhow from Matemo to Ibo Island and spend a night at the authentically restored Ibo Island Lodge http://www.iboisland.com/content1.cfm?AgentsID=279&PageID=298. Board and all activities included. ? Day #4, #5 & #6: 3 days of dhow based activities and sailing. Spend 3 glorious nights under the stars in fully serviced tented beach camps on island beaches in the archipelago. ? Day #7: Optional morning game fishing. Spend 1 night at the luxurious Pemba Beach Hotel. ? Day #8: Tour Pemba town. Transfer to airport for return flight from Pemba to Johannesburg, Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
We use 3 entirely traditional dhows on our adventures, each fully crewed and skippered by an experienced local marinaro from Ilha Ibo. One dhow is used to move camp from island to island whilst two dhows are used for guest activities and sailing. Your dhow safari will give you the opportunity to experience the beauty and art of traditional dhow travel under sail and afford you the greatest freedom to enjoy your natural surroundings.
It is important for guests to understand the culture surrounding dhow travel. It is a relaxed, simple and unhurried affair and usually, the sea conditions are calm with light winds. You will be in the company of many other traditional dhows out at sea and usually within sight of an island to retreat to in the case of sudden bad weather. We do make use of an outboard motor on occasions, but for the most part it is adventure dhow sailing at its best.
The ancient art of traditional dhow travel has been practiced all along this coast for centuries with fathers passing on the craft of skippering dhows to their sons through generations. Even today, this is the most common means of goods transport, trade and travel for these island communities and is a vital and necessary part of coastal life. Dhows are built locally by craftsmen up and down the length of the coast of East Africa.
Actual activities whilst on safari depend may depend on seasonal factors and whether the party sails the northern or southern archipelago. However, a typical southern islands tour includes…
? Expert guides and tour leader. ? At least two spectacular coral reef dives off Zala Bank. ? Visit to Ilha das Rôlas to see giant Coconut Crabs (Birgus latro). ? Snorkelling with oyster divers for fresh oysters and a shallow wreck dive. ? Guided birding tours at sunset in the mangrove forests of the islands and mainland estuaries. ? Guided tours of the historic ruins on Ilha Ibo and Ilha Quisiva and a tour of the coconut plantation on Ilha Quirimba. ? Various types of fishing including night-fishing off dhows and an optional half-day game fishing excursion on the Giorgio Bella. ? A game hike with a Park ranger in the Quirimbas National Park (elephant and buffalo). ? Exploring the fascinating madrepores and inter-tidal zone on Ilha Quisiva. ? Visits to local Kimuane villages.
It is certain that Arabic peoples (Moors) were in occupation along the whole of the East African coastal seaboard by the 12th or 13th century. The influence of the ancestral family of the great 14th century ruler of Kilwa, Al Hasan Ibn Suleiman, extended across the south east Indian Ocean encompassing the islands of Kilwa, Songo Mnara, Shanga, Pemba, Zanzibar, western Madagascar, the Comoros and Quirimba (or Aswatada) Islands. They traded cloth, gold, ivory and slaves as far south as Great Zimbabwe and the kingdom of Monomotapa - founding settlements at Sofala, Inhambane, Quillemane and Angoche.
During the 15th century, the early Portuguese seafarers sailed south around the Cape of Good Hope and up the coast of east Africa to the Malabar coast of India in their efforts to establish the great east-west trade passage with Europe. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Arab hegemony waned and was supplanted by Portuguese dominion as they firmly consolidated their colonial empire in South America, Africa and the East. The 18th and 19th centuries saw a gradual decline in Portuguese power and this region saw numerous incursions by French and American slave traders and privateers.
Many structures, artifacts and traditions remain today as echoes of this ancient history for us to rediscover and explore.
Aswatada Safaris subscribes to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and supports the objectives of the Management Plan for the Quirimbas National Park of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Mozambique.
As such, we attempt to utilise the resources of local communities whereever possible in support of a sustainable tourism industry within the region. We recognise that employment provided by tourism is one of the most important alternatives to subsistance fishing and its growth in the region will contribute significantly to conservation efforts ultimately resulting in alleviation of pressure on fish stocks and marine resources.
We do this principally by hiring local guides and camp staff, purchasing fish for a fair price from local fishermen and generally ensuring that each community involved obtains some direct tangible benefit from each safari. We seek and maintain respectful and cordial relations with each community. Our support for the established resorts in Pemba and the Archipelago makes a contribution towards the continued employment and upliftment of people of the region and plays its part in fostering awareness and conservation of the environment. Our safari product has a relatively low carbon footprint and we attempt to minimise our environmental impact in every way to the fullest extent possible.
Physical Address: 10 Fraser Road ASSAGAY 3610 DURBAN KWA-ZULU NATAL SOUTH AFRICA Postal Address: P O Box 320 HILLCREST 3650 DURBAN KWA-ZULU NATAL SOUTH AFRICA
Tel (SA): +27 (0)31 7682745 Mobile (SA): +27 (0)82 6995051 Mobile (Moz): +258 82 5426330
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